Perforating machine



Dec. 12,1939. H. A. SWANSQN PERFORA'I'ING MACHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. g aZmar (Z Jam/25072 MM 0 I ATTORN S.

Dec. 12, 1939. H. A. SWANSON 2,183,361

PERFORATING MAHINE Filed Sept. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 4/2 n v @zzjmarafiwarwom ATTORNYS.

source of power.

Patented Dec. 12, 1939 7 UNITED STATES PERFORATIN G MACHINE.

Hjalmar A. Swanson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gummins Perforator Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application September 12, 1938, Serial No. 229,412

6 Claims.

The invention relates to perforating machines andhas particular reference to power driven perforating machines of the stationary type.

The machine selected for illustration in the drawings is an example of the above mentioned type of machine which employs a conventional overrunning clutch for connecting the operating shaft to and disconnecting the same from the Heretofore said clutch has been actuated by the operator through a foot pedal which when held in trip position would produce a perforating operation for each revolution of the fly wheel or other operating instrumentality.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved means for automatically tripping theclutch to produce a perforating operation and which when moved from an inoperative to a trip position or vice versa will also actuate an electric switch controlling the starting and stopping of the electric motor comprising the source of power for the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for automatically tripping the clutch when located in a trip position and which will produce a perforating operation for every second, third or fourth revolution of the fly wheel, depending on the gear ratio selected, to thereby give the workmen time between operations to remove the perforated label or work sheet and insert another one in the machine.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of improved means for initiating a perforating operation and which will insure a stopping of the perforating dies in their extreme uppermost position, in which position it is possible to change the perforating dies and which also permits ready removal of the perforated work sheet and insertion of the next sheet to be perforated.

With these and various other objects in View, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended heretoe In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the invention and wherein like refer ence characters are used to designate like parts Figure 1 is an elevational view, parts being shown in section, of a power driven stationary type perforating machine embodying the features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical'sectional view taken subs lly along line 2-2 of Figure 1 showin the improved clutch tripping means of the invention;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view, parts being shown in section, of the perforating head of the present machine;

Figure 4: is a sectional View taken substantially along line 44 of Figure 1 showing the clutch mechanism;

Figure 5 is another sectional view showing the clutch of Figure 4 in associated relation with the operating shaft and hub of the fly-wheel;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of Figure 1; and

Figure 7 is a view along line l'! of Figure 1 showing the connections between the operating lever and the switch means.

The perforating machine, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, is supported on a standard I!) and essentially consists of a body portion ll having journalling means I2 for an operating 2 shaft I3. At the front of the machine the operating shaft is provided with an eccentric I4 which is operatively connected with the slide [5 mounted in guides l1, Figure 3, and which provide for vertical movement of the slide. Said slide carries a number of rotatable dies l8, I9, 20, etc., each of which has openings formed in its periphery for purposes which will be presently described. The portion 2| of the present machine carries a plurality of perforating pins 22 which are yieldingly maintained in their uppermost or retracted position by springs, not shown, and in which position a bill, label or the like may be inserted between portion 2! and the die block 23 in order that the same may be perforate-d by downward movement of said pins 22 from their retracted position into an operative position. This downward movement of the pins is caused by reciprocating movement of the dies l8, l9 and 20, respectively, which, as previously described, are carried by the slide and accordingly, a perforating operation results for each reciprocating movement of the slide or, in other words, for each revolution of the operating shaft 13. The perforating machine of the invention is commonly used for perforating labels with the date and thus the date may be readily changed.

Each die carries an indexing or rotating knob 24 and when a die has been rotated to locate certain openings over its respective pins 22 a number will be perforated in the label or sheet, depending on which pins will be allowed to remain retracted and which will be forced down into operative position. The function of the openings in the dies is to allow the proper pins to remain retracted.

The source of power for rotating the operating shaft 13 consists of an electric motor, not shown, which is operatively connected by the endless belt 255 with the fly Wheel 26, which has independent rotation on the end of shaft [3 opposite eccentric it. The fly wheel forms a driving instrumentality for the shaft and between the same and said shaft there is located a clutch indicated in its entirety, Figure l, by numeral 21. Said clutch is positioned Within the hub 28 of the flywheel and may be of any conventional type which will operatively connect the operating shaft 3 with the flywheel 25 upon tripping of member 35, Figure 2, and readily disconnect the parts when said member is allowed to return to its initial position. As better shown in Figures 4 and 5 the clutch essentially consists of a body member 35 keyed to the shaft l3 as at 32 so as to rotate with said shaft. A plurality of recesses 33 are formed in the periphery of the body member, each recess providing a relatively short wall and a long base wall. Also formed in said body member are a plurality of substantially square notches 3 2. The fly wheel 26, as previously described, rotates freely on shaft !3 and the hub 28 thereof is recessed at 35 within which the body member of the clutch is located. Also mounted so as to rotate freely with respect to the body member are a pair of plate members 36, the members being located on the respective sides of the body portion and being connected together by transverse studs 31, each having an enlarged intermediate portion 38 located within a square notch formed in the body portion so that limited rotation between the plate members and the body portion is possible. Rollers 40, forming the clutching elements, are carried in recesses formed in the periphery of the plate members and which function to locate a roller in each of the triangular recesses 33.. The coil springs 4! force the rollers toward the small end of their triangular recess, in which position the rollers are effective to operatively connect the fly wheel and shaft l3. However, since the plate members carry said rollers they are held in an inoperative position when the members are prevented from rotating by the trip lever 30, Figure 2. Immediately upon release of said members by the trip lever the springs force their respective roller into such wedging engagement with the internal periphery of the hub portion as to cause the shaft to be driven by the fly wheel as above described.

In the improved structure comprising the present invention the hub 28 of the fly wheel is provided with a gear 42 which meshes with a gear 43 of substantially the same size, mounted for rotation on shaft 44 and carrying a pinion 45. Said pinion meshes with and drives gear 46 mounted for rotation on shaft 47, said shaft being suitably supported by the body portion H of the machine. Fixed to said gear 56 so as to rotate therewith is a cam 48 having a raised cam portion 49.

The electric motor for driving the fly wheel through belt 25 is controlled by the electric switch designated in its entirety by numeral 55. The switch lever 52 thereof is operatively connected to the actuating lever 52 which when oscillated causes actuation of the switch to start and stop the driving motor for the machine. Lever 52 has pivotal connection at 53 with the supporting stud 54. Pivotally secured to lever 52 at 55 is an arm 56 having similar connection with the hinged section 51 of an oscillating lever 58, as clearly shown in Figure 2. Said lever is carried by shaft so as to have oscillating movement in a vertical plane and said lever is further provided with a hinge 59 connecting with the section 51. By movement of the actuating lever 52 the hinged section El may be positioned over and in alignment with cam 48. Retracting lever 52 causes the hinged section to pivot, thereby locating the same out of alignment and in an inoperative position with respect to said cam.

Oscillating lever 58 is provided with a boss 60 to which is fixed a rod (ii, the same continuing toward and passing through an opening in the base of the machine. Between said base and the boss 60 and encircling the rod is a coil spring 52 which yieldingly forces lever 58 upwardly to maintain the hinge section 5'! in contact with the cam 58 when the parts are in alignment. The upper end of rod 6| connects with the trip member 35 pivoted at 29 and having a part 53 adapted to engage a notch formed in the outside member 35 to thereby hold the plate members against rotation and the clutch in released position, in which position the operating shaft I3 will be disconnected from the fly wheel.

When the cam portion 49 of cam 48 contacts the hinged section of the oscillating lever the latter will be rocked in a direction producing downward movement of its right hand end, Figure 2, to which end rod 6| is fixed. This downward movement will take place against the tension of spring 62 and will produce rotation of the trip lever 3E sufficient to withdraw the same from engagement with member 36, whereupon the clutch will be free and will automatically connect shaft l3 with the fly wheel. The cam 48 is rotated from the fly wheel at a reduced speed by the gearing disclosed. In the present case, for purposes of illustration, the speed ratio may be considered as three to one. In other words, for every three revolutions of the fly wheel the cam 48 will have one revolution. As the oscillating lever 58 is oscillated by said cam once for each revolution thereof, it follows that the clutch is tripped once for every three revolutions of the fly wheel. Each tripping of the clutch initiates rotation of the operating shaft and which continues for one revolution to thereby produce a perforating operation. The trip lever 30 after actuation is biased toward its initial position and upon completion of one revolution the notch in member 36 will again engage with part 63 and hold the clutch in its inoperative position. The operating shaft is also releasably held in a position of rest by the latch 64, Figure 6, spring pressed at its lower end by spring 65 and which forces its upper end into the notch 66 adapted to receive the same. Said notch is formed in ring 6? non-rotatably fixed to the operating shaft. This latch properly positions said shaft when at rest and also prevents reverse rotation of the same.

Before the trip member will be again actuated the fly wheel will rotate for two revolutions and therefore it will be seen that when the hinged section is rotated and held over cam 48 the clutch will be tripped once for every three revolutions of the fly wheel, which means that a perforating operation will occur for every third revolution of the fly wheel.

As a result of the improved clutch tripping means of the invention the perforating machine is automatic, and a perforating operation takes place as long as section 51 of the oscillating lever is located over cam 48. The position of said section .is determined by the actuating lever 52 which extends upwardly from one side of the machine so as to be readily accessible to the operator. The connection between the lever and switch 50 is such that when the lever is moved to locate'section 51 over the cam the switch will be actuated to connect the electric motor with a source of current supply. Also when lever 52 is retracted, thus locating section 51 out of alignment with the cam, the switch will be actuated to disconnect the motor from its source of current. The electric motor starting switch shown in Patent No. 1,726,233 issued to Herbert K. Krantz on August'27, 1929, is illustrative of the type of switch which has been found satisfactory for the present apparatus.

\ Depending on the gear ratio selected, a perforating operation will occur every second, third or fourth revolution of the fiy wheel. In the illustrated example the'gear ratio is three to one and thus an operation takes place every third revolution of the fly wheel. The time elapsing between operations is therefore sufiicient for the workman to remove the perforated label or work sheet and insert another one in the machine. Also the structure of the invention disconnects the fly wheel and operating shaft at the proper time to insure complete retraction of the perforating pins so that the workman can readily remove and insert work sheets or labels. More particularly, the perforating pins are brought to rest in their extreme uppermost position at the completion of each and every perforating operation, in which position it is possible to rotate the dies in order to vary the indicia perforated by the machine.

In the present embodiment the trip lever 30 is pivotally supported at 29 by member 39, suitably secured to the body portion of the machine and which pivot point is located some distance to the left, Figure 2, of a vertical line passing through the latching nose formed on part 63 of said lever when in latched position. Also, as more particularly shown in Figure 4, the nose on part 63 is provided with a camming surface 68 which cams the upper surface of the notch when the trip lever is engaging with said notch. This surface, together with the oscillating movement of the lever, due to the position of the pivot point 29, operates to impart to the plate members 36 movement in a counterclockwise direction and which is automatic with the latching of the clutch. Also this counterclockwise rotation, which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the clutch when operating, is relative to the body portion so that the effect of the same is to free the rollers 40 with respect to their clutching surface 35. Although said movement is relatively slight, it is suflicient to properly free the rollers. As a result, latching of the clutch takes place smoothly without any jar on the parts, and the successful operation of the clutch can be attributed in a large measure to this feature.

This invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated in the drawings, as various forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No. 82,826, filed June 1, 1936.

an electric switch for starting and stopping said driving means, and aconnection between said switch and said manually operable means whereby said means also controls the starting and stopping of the said driving'means for the machine.

2. In a perforating machine of the power driven type, the combination with a clutch interposed between said machine and the driving means therefor, of mechanism for tripping said clutch to cause a perforating operation to take place, said mechanism including an oscillatable lever having a hinged section, a rotatable cam driven from said driving means and adapted to directly contact saidhinge section to cause oscillation of the lever, a manually operable lever for moving said section out of contact with the cam to render said mechanism inoperative, an electric switch for starting and stopping said driving means, and a connection between said switch and said manually operable lever whereby said lever also controls the starting and stopping of said driving means for the machine.

3. In a perforating machine of the power driven type, in combination, an operating shaft, perfoshaft at one end thereof and actuated thereby to produce a perforating operation for each revolution of the shaft, driving means mounted on the other end of said shaft for rotation independently thereof, a clutch interposed between the driving means and said shaft whereby the shaft is driven by the driving means when the clutch is tripped to thereby produce a perforating operation, mechanism for tripping said clutch including an oscillatable lever having a hinged section adapted to have pivotal movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of movement of said lever, a rotatable cam for contacting said hinged section when the same is positioned over said cam to thus cause oscillation of the lever, and gearing operatively connecting said cam with the driving means and rotating said cam at a reduced speed, whereby tripping of the clutch will occur once for every several revolutions of the driving means, depending on the speed ratio between the cam and the driving means.

4. In a perforating machine of the power driven type, in combination, an operating shaft, perforating mechanism having connection with said shaft at one end thereof and actuated thereby to produce a perforating operation for each revolution of the shaft, driving means mounted on the other end of said shaft for rotation independently thereof, a clutch interposed between the driving means and said shaft whereby the shaft is driven by the driving means when the clutch is tripped to thereby produce a perforating oper ation, mechanism for tripping said clutch including an oscillatable lever having a hinged section adapted to have pivotal movement in a direction at right angles to the plane of movement of said lever, a rotatable cam for contacting said hinged section when the same is positioned over said cam to thus cause oscillation of the lever, reduction gearing operatively connecting the cam with the driving means and rotating said cam at a reduced speed, whereby tripping of the clutch will occur once for every several revolutions of the driving means, depending on the speed ratio between the cam and the driving means, and a lever under the control of the operator for rendering said mechanism operative or inoperative by moving the hinged section into or out of alignment with said rotatable cam.

5. In a perforating machine of the power driven type, in combination, an operating shaft, periorating mechanism having connection with said shaft at one end thereof and actuated thereby to produce a perforating operation for each revolution of the shaft, driving means mounted on the other end of said shaft for rotation independently thereof, a clutch interposed between the driving means and said shaft whereby the shaft is driven by the driving means when the clutch is tripped to thereby produce a perforating operation, mechanism for tripping said clutch including an oscillatable lever supported for movement in a substantially vertical plane, said lever having a lunged section adapted to have pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, a rotatable cam positioned below and in the vertical plane of said oscillating lever, said cam contacting said hinged section when the same is positioned over the cam to thus cause oscillation of the lever, reduction gearing operatively connecting the cam with the driving means and rotating said cam at a reduced speed, whereby tripping of the clutch will occur once for every several revolutions of the driving means, depending on the speed ratio between the cam and the driving means, and a lever under the control of the operator for rendering said mechanism operative or inoperative by moving the hinged section into and out of alignment with the rotatable cam.

6. In a perforating machine of the power driven type, in combination, an operating shaft, perforating mechanism having connection with said shaft at one end thereof and actuated thereby to produce a perforating operation for each revolution of the shaft, driving means mounted on the other end of said shaft for rotation independently thereof, a clutch interposed between the driving means and said shaft whereby the shaft is driven by the driving means when the clutch is tripped to thereby produce a perforating operation, mechanism for tripping said clutch including an cscillatable lever supported for movement in a substantially vertical plane, said lever having a hinged section adapted to have pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, a rotatable cam positioned below and in the vertical plane of said oscillating lever, said cam contacting said hinged section when the same is positioned over the cam to thus cause oscillation of the lever, reduction gearing operatively connecting the cam with the driving means and rotating said cam at a reduced speed, whereby tripping of the clutch will occur once for every several revolutions of the driving means, depending on the speed ratio between the cam and the driving means, a lever under the control of the operator for rendering said mechanism operative or inoperative by moving the hinged section into and out of alignment with the rotatable earn, an electric switch for starting and stopping said driving means, and a connection between said switch and said lever whereby the latter also controls the starting and stop- HJALMAR A. SWANSON. 

